title: Limiting hazardous noise exposure from noisy toys: simple, sticky solutions.
abstract: To assess noise levels of toys from the Sight & Hearing Association (SHA) 2010 Noisy Toys List and evaluate the change in noise of these toys after covering the speakers with tape or glue.
  
  
  METHODS
  One Group Pretest-Posttest Design.
  
  
  METHODS
  SHA 2010 Toys List (n = 18) toys were tested at distances of 0 and 25 cm from sound source in a soundproof booth using a digital sound-level meter. The dBA level of sound produced by toy was obtained. Toys with speakers (n = 16) were tested before and after altering speakers with plastic packing tape or nontoxic glue.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean noise level for non-taped toys at 0 and 25 cm was 107.6 dBA (SD ± 8.5) and 82.5 dBA (SD ± 8.8), respectively. With tape, there was a statistically significant decrease in noise level at 0 and 25 cm: 84.2 dBA and 68.2 dBA (P <0.001). With glue, there was a statistically significant decrease in noise level at 0 cm and 25 cm: 79.7 dBA and 66.4 dBA (P <0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both tape and glue significantly decreased the noise level produced by the toys. However, there was no significant difference between tape or glue. Overall, altering the toy can significantly decrease the sound a child may experience when playing with toys. However, some toys, even after altering, still produce sound levels that may be considered dangerous.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Heather M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Weinreich
authors.forename: Noel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jabbour
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Levine
authors.forename: Bevan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yueh
mesh_terms: D000269:Adhesives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003257:Consumer Product Safety; D006317:Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D009622:Noise / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010988:Play and Playthings
chemical_list: D000269:Adhesives
keywords: Noise exposure; hearing loss; noise